In a bold move to clarify the ongoing concerns surrounding the revocation of teaching and non-teaching appointments within the Ghana Education Service (GES), Minister for Education Haruna Iddrisu has addressed aggrieved university graduate teachers affected by the recent nationwide directive. Speaking to a group of picketing graduates at the Ministry of Education forecourt, the Minister called for calm and patience as the government carries out a validation exercise to determine who among the newly recruited can be absorbed into the system.
Background: Revocation of Appointments
The Ghana Education Service officially revoked all appointments and recruitments of staff who had not yet been placed on the government payroll. This directive, issued on February 17, 2025, followed a letter from the Office of the President dated February 10, 2025, and was based on concerns over governance lapses during the previous administration’s final days. According to GES, the revocation impacts both teaching and non-teaching staff whose employment processes had not been completed with payroll inclusion.
In his statement, Acting Director-General of GES, Prof. Ernest Kofi Davis, instructed all Regional, District, Municipal, and Metropolitan Directors of Education to enforce the directive strictly and ensure immediate compliance.
The Validation Process
To ensure transparency and restore order, GES has initiated a validation exercise to verify the credentials and employment status of affected staff. This exercise, which was to be completed on March 14, 2025, was conducted by a three-member regional committee consisting of:
- The Regional Human Resource Officer
- The Regional Internal Auditor
- The Regional Accountant
Affected individuals are required to submit the following documents:
- Appointment Letter
- Academic Certificate
- Licensure Certificate
- National Service Certificate
GES has emphasized the importance of this process in cleansing the payroll system, eliminating illegitimate appointments, and ensuring that only qualified staff are retained.
Haruna Iddrisu Speaks: “Be Patient”
In addressing the crowd of concerned graduate teachers, Minister Haruna Iddrisu made it clear that the current administration inherited a problematic situation. He revealed that approximately 39,000 appointment letters had been issued without the necessary financial clearance. According to him, this lapse means the government may only be able to absorb between 9,000 to 12,000 of the recruited individuals — far fewer than the total number issued with appointment letters.
“When you come and create this scene, I have to respond to it,” he said. “Whoever misled you… it’s not the John Mahama or Haruna administration. Somebody, probably not intentionally, got you involved in a recruitment process that lacked legitimate approval.”
The Minister assured the affected staff that a thorough audit and validation exercise is underway. Only those who meet the proper qualifications and have been legitimately posted will be considered for absorption, based on available financial resources.
What This Means for Affected Graduates
Until the validation process is complete, all affected graduates are advised to remain calm and await further communication from GES. While this development brings uncertainty for many, it also marks a significant step toward regularizing recruitment procedures and restoring transparency in public sector employment.
GES has reiterated its commitment to a fair and objective process and has urged affected staff to cooperate fully with the validation committee to safeguard their future prospects within the service.
For more details or assistance, affected individuals are encouraged to contact their respective regional GES offices.
Published By: Justice Donkoh | GESHub.org
